Microstructural study of forged magnesium pipes at room temperature

We report the impact of room temperature forging on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of hot extruded Mg pipes with a special focus on twinning behaviour and texture. The twinning is identified as an important deformation mechanism. The amount of twins are first increased with the increase in forging strain and then reduced remarkably, followed by a sudden increase until the saturation state. Different types of twins are identified, and the role they play in the deformation process is discussed. The basal planes are found to be rotated by a right angle from the extrusion direction during the room temperature forging. The Vickers hardness is increased drastically once imposing the room temperature forging, thereby demonstrating that this technique is effective in modifying microstructures and mechanical properties of metals.